UNIONS must ensure Labour doesn’t backtrack on its delayed promises to remove the 50 per cent ballot turnout threshold, the National Education Union (NEU) conference moved today.

The government is expected to remove the threshold when online balloting is introduced in August as per the Employment Rights Act.

But delegates passed a motion calling on the TUC to launch a “serious campaign” to ensure electronic balloting is in place this year, vowing to campaign more visibly for a second employment rights Bill that would abolish all anti-trade union legislation.

NEU executive member Jonathan Reddiford said: “The Labour government is blowing warm and then cold on this issue. It’s kicking the can down the road.

“First of all it was meant to be April 2026, then it would be implemented in August… and now I understand they are going to decouple the two.

“What we are learning is if you don’t keep the pressure on this Labour government actually the implementation could be years away.

“It’s absolutely wrong that technology from the 19th century is being enforced to implement decisions from the 21st century.”

Seconding, conference committee member Joseph Flynn said: “The TUC does have influence on this government but if it doesn’t use it, what use is it?

“The TUC must launch a serious public campaign tho hold this government’s feet to the fire on this.

“If turnout improves when the online ballot comes in, they may keep the threshold, this is explicitly political.”

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “Conference has sent a clear message that trade union members must be able to vote online in trade union ballots – and the government must act now.

“Members are still forced to use postal ballots that belong in the last century to meet legal thresholds designed to suppress participation and weaken the voice of working people.

“Electronic balloting would be safe, increase turnout and shorten ballot periods. Party leadership elections are already held online – yet the right to strike still relies on envelopes and stamps.

“The government has rightly promised electronic balloting from August this year. The NEU will not accept further delays. We will hold the government to their commitment.”